TheCable

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed 40 election observers to Togo to monitor the country’s legislative and regional elections scheduled for April 29.

In a statement on Saturday, Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission, said the delegation is led by Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former vice-president of The Gambia.

“This mission is in line with the provisions of Article 12 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and constitutes support from the regional organisation to its Member States for the conduct of their elections,” the statement reads.

Touray said the team comprises ambassadors from member states accredited to ECOWAS, representatives of the ECOWAS court of justice and parliament, civil society organisations (CSOs), media professionals, and election observation specialists from the West African region.

The ECOWAS commission president said the delegation is “being deployed following the recommendations of a pre-election fact-finding mission that visited Togo from 15 to 20 April 2024 to assess the preparatory phases of the elections”.

The election observers are expected to hold consultations with the main stakeholders in the electoral process and monitor the voting process.

Last week, Togo’s parliament approved a new constitution that extended President Faure Gnassingbé’s term.

The approval shifts the West African nation from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government.

It also modifies both the term limits and methods of the presidential election. The reforms enabled Gnassingbé to remain in power until 2031, after which he could be appointed to the new position of “president of the council of ministers”.